Daily Timer

ABSTRACT

A timer counts days, instead of minutes, typically up to 365 days. A “day” button can be pressed to select the number of days before an alarm sounds. 
     When the start/stop button is pressed, after setting the number of days, the alarm will sound at the same time of the day, the set number of days in the future, that the start/stop button was pressed. The timer automatically repeats the last programmed daily amount to protect the user from forgetting to re-program for another countdown. If the user wants to program a different number of days, they can press a reset button and enter the number of days for the next event. The timer can be mounted in various manners and its housing can be designed for providing such various mounting options.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/662,429, filed Jun. 21, 2012, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to timers and, more particularly, to adigital timer that counts days instead of minutes, up to 365 days.

Many times, people require reminders every set number of days. Forexample, property managers and tenants often forget to change their airconditioning/furnace filters and many people are noncompliant withmedication administration.

Current reminder systems include phone applications or computerprograms. These systems, however, require the related device, such as aphone or computer, to operate. Many people don't have access to thesedevices or may be overwhelmed by the operation and programming of thesedevices. Many people have phone application overload and may neglect touse applications on their phone or computer.

Email reminders may be used as well. However this also requires the useof a computing device to receive the messages and/or reminders.Moreover, with large volumes of email messages received daily, suchmessages and/or reminders may be missed or simply ignored.

As can be seen, there is a need for an easy to use, stand-alone timerthat can count periods in days instead of hours or minutes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a timer comprises a display; aday button for adjusting a number of days before an alert is sounded;and a start/stop button for starting a countdown to the number of daysset by pressing the day button, wherein the timer is programmed tocountdown in only days, without an adjustment for setting hours orminutes.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for counting down adesired number of days on a timer comprises depressing a day button toadjust the desired number of days before an alert is sounded, the numberof days being shown on a display of the timer; and starting a countdownto the desired number of days set by depressing a start/stop button,wherein the timer is programmed to countdown in only days, without anadjustment for setting hours or minutes.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a timer according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the timer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the timer of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a timer thatcounts days, instead of minutes, typically up to 365 days. A “day”button can be pressed to select the number of days before an alarmsounds. When the start/stop button is pressed, after setting the numberof days, the alarm will sound at the same time of the day, the setnumber of days in the future, that the start/stop button was pressed.The timer automatically repeats the last programmed daily amount toprotect the user from forgetting to re-program for another countdown. Ifthe user wants to program a different number of days, they can press areset button and enter the number of days for the next event. The timercan be mounted in various manners and its housing can be designed forproviding such various mounting options, including a magnet, flip outstand, sticky pad or hole for nail or screw mounting.

The timer is designed to be small and portable, allowing the timer to beplaced in a location related to the task to be remembered. For example,the timer can be placed in a location near medication to remind the userto take medication, or may be attached to a furnace/AC housing to remindthe user to change their furnace filter.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a timer can be contained within atimer housing 10 and a display 12, such as a liquid crystal display(LCD) can be viewed from a front face of the housing 10. Controlbuttons, such as a day button 32, a start/stop button 34 and a resetbutton 36 can be accessed from the front face of the housing 10.

A speaker 24 can be designed to provide an alert. The alert can takevarious forms, such as a continuous beep, a periodic chirp, a siren-likealarm, or the like. The alert can sound at various times. For example,the alert can sound for a certain period of time continuously and, ifnot acknowledged and reset, the alert can sound periodically untilreset. In some embodiments, when the alert sounds, the display 12 canshow the time since the alert sounded.

The display can take various forms and can include various information.In some embodiments, the display can include a number of days, from 1 to365, remaining until the alert. The display can include the icon“countdown” which can flash while the timer is counting down. In someembodiments, the display can include a battery icon. This icon can flashto indicate a low battery. For example, this icon can flash when thecharge falls below 2.6V to signal a low battery. When the timercompletes a countdown, it will sound an alarm and also, in someembodiments, an alarm icon on the display can flash.

Various methods can be included with the timer for mounting ordisplaying the timer. For example, a folding stand 28 can fold out abouta hinge 26 to support the timer on a horizontal surface. A magnet 20 anda sticky pad 22 can be disposed behind the timer for attaching the timerto a surface, such as a furnace, a wall, a cabinet, or the like.Finally, a hail hole 30 can be provided to allow the timer to mount to asurface with a nail or screw.

The back face of the timer can include a battery compartment cover 14that can cover a battery compartment 16 to house one or more batteries18. Other power supplies may also be used to power the timer, such as anAC/DC transformer/plug-in power, solar power, or the like.

To use the timer of the present invention, a user can first decide whattask they wish to use the timer and how many days to program. Forexample, if a medication needs to be taken every 30 days, the user canpress the day button 32 to show “30” on the display 12. Functionalitycan be provided to allow a user to hold down the day button 32 toquickly advance the number of days. At the time of day that the userwishes to be reminded, they would then press the start/stop button 34.At this point, the timer will count down the number of days and sound analert at the same time of day the start/stop button 34 was pressed, but30 days later. When the alert sounds, the user can press the start/stopbutton 34 to acknowledge the alert and restart another 30 day countdown.In some embodiments, the new 30 day countdown will be exactly 30 daysfrom the time the alarm sounded. In other embodiments, the new 30 daycountdown will be 30 days from the time the alert was restarted bypressing the start/stop button. Either way, the alarm can automaticallyreset unless the reset button 36 is pressed. If the reset button 36 ispressed, the user can select a different number of days for the alert tobe activated.

A software implementation of the present invention can include thefunctionality of the physical device. The software digital timer mayallow a user to set multiple events, such as more than 10 events, forthe timer.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A timer comprising: a display; a day button foradjusting a number of days before an alert is sounded; and a start/stopbutton for starting a countdown to the number of days set by pressingthe day button, wherein the timer is programmed to countdown in onlydays, without an adjustment for setting hours or minutes.
 2. The timerof claim 1, further comprising a reset button for resetting the numberof days.
 3. The timer of claim 1, further comprising means forsupporting the timer.
 4. The timer of claim 1, wherein the means forsupporting the timer includes a folding stand.
 5. The timer of claim 1,wherein the means for supporting the timer includes a magnet.
 6. Thetimer of claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the timer includes asticky pad.
 7. The timer of claim 1, wherein the means for supportingthe timer includes a nail hole.
 8. A method for counting down a desirednumber of days on a timer, comprising: depressing a day button to adjustthe desired number of days before an alert is sounded, the number ofdays being shown on a display of the timer; and starting a countdown tothe desired number of days set by depressing a start/stop button,wherein the timer is programmed to countdown in only days, without anadjustment for setting hours or minutes.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising resetting the desired number of days by depressing areset button.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising supportingthe timer by at least one of a folding stand, a wall mount nail hole, amagnet and a sticky pad.